The central government has pledged financial support to set up a state-of-the-art Ayurvedic Clinical Research Centre in Kerala to help scientifically validate traditional systems of healing and medicine and integrate them with mainstream public healthcare delivery.

Union minister for state for AYUSH, Mr Shripad Yesso Naik gave the assurance as he announced the new National Programme of Ayurveda Inspired Research initiated by the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) and the proposed National Ayurveda Expo 2015 at a function on January 11, 2015.

The RGCB is setting up a National Centre for Excellence for Ayurveda Inspired Discovery lead research into efficacy mechanisms involved in Ayurvedic therapeutics and has proposed two sister campuses: an Ayurvedic Clinical Research Centre at Konni in Kerala and a High Altitude Discovery Centre at Munnar in Kerala.

Mr Naik said the Centre will fund the setting up the clinical research facility in Konni, as Kerala's minister for health and family welfare Mr V S Sivakumar promised to provide the approximately 50 acres of land required for the project.

The union minister has been visiting Kerala for the past week to learn more about Ayurvedic practice, education and industry in the state.